Karan Joseph’s Father Alleges Murder, Demands Fair Probe
The family issued a statement in Bengaluru, in which they alleged that the investigation was ‘prejudged’.
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Days after the Mumbai-based pianist Karan Joseph fell from the 12th floor of an apartment in Bandra, his father, Dr Thomas Joseph has alleged that it was murder.
The family issued a statement in Bengaluru, in which they alleged that the investigation was ‘prejudged’, and that baseless rumours have been floated to divert attention.
The family categorically denied any traces of alcohol, drugs or medicines being found from the apartment in course of a police search. They also denied the presence of any financial trouble or depression in Karan’s life. The pressure from Rishi Shah, CEO of Crassbones Media, to sign an exclusive contract with him, was pointed out as a possible reason for death by his family.
A Musician Par Excellence
The eight-page long statement, which claimed that Karan was a renowned pianist and musician par excellence, also added that he was simple, shy and very gentle and that music was his only passion.
After working with AR Rahman, Karan had travelled to several countries as the cultural ambassador for the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. “To suggest that he was disturbed, depressed, financially weak or otherwise unstable is not just doing his memory a disservice but is patently untrue,” the father said.
Trouble Named Rishi Shah
Thomas said that Karan first crossed paths with Rishi Shah, CEO of Crassbones Media and an Entrepreneur, when he heard Karan perform at a show in early August 2017. Rishi Shah desperately wanted Karan to join him and sign an exclusive Business contract with him for RAVE.
Shah then called Karan’s parents in Bengaluru and asked them to come to Mumbai to discuss his contract. A meeting took place between Shah, Karan and his family on August 17.
Shah Dissuaded Karan from Playing with Other Bands
“Considering the events that have unfolded in the aftermath of Karan’s unnatural demise, we now realize that his (Rishi Shah) intentions were not correct. Rishi Shah promised to make Karan Joseph a brand and dissuaded Karan from playing with any other artists,” the statement said.
Karan’s parents wanted him to take his time to consider Shah’s proposal, because of which Karan deferred the contract, despite Shah coercing him.
“In his interviews and statements, Rishi Shah has suppressed mention of the contract he was pushing Karan to sign, although this is the root cause of the incident,” Thomas pointed out.
Karan was Financially Stable Since He Was 14
The family refuted the allegation that Karan’s suicide was due to financial reasons, stating that Karan had been financially independent since the age of 14. “The rumours of him being in financial crisis are just plain rubbish… vouchers and pay stubs clearly reflect Karan’s financial stability and earning capacities,” his father said.
He was not suffering from Depression
Quoting a statement given to the police, his father said: “In my capacity as a doctor and his father, I have given a statement to the police station stating that neither was Karan suffering from depression nor was he on treatment or medication of any kind. He has never been admitted as an inpatient nor taken treatment as an outpatient for any kind of depression,” the father said.
He feared for his life
Following this death, many of his friends made the messages Karan sent public. One of those messages, sent to his friend Randolph, clearly showed that all was not well between the night of 8 September and morning of 9 September, and that Karan feared for his life.
“These phone messages were the last communication that Karan sent out and indicate that there was some person/persons who were intimidating him to a point, that ultimately it resulted in his death. Those messages should be given the status of a dying declaration,” his father demanded.
The Case Has Been Prejudged
The statement alleged that the slander and defamatory statements that appeared in the media gave the family no time to grieve. “The case has been prejudged even before the investigation commenced. The police need to set aside motivated statements and independently investigate his death.”
Flat Was Not Sealed Following the Crime
Family questioned why the apartment from where Rishi fell, was not sealed or searched by the police immediately. “The death occurred at the Concord Apartment at Bullock Road, Bandra, from the 12th floor apartment occupied by Rishi Shah. The police who came to the spot took Karan’s body to the hospital around 9am, but didn’t search or seal the apartment. Our cousin kept visiting the police station for post mortem report and has come across a retired police official at the station. His role needs to be probed,” his father wrote.
Family Threatened
“On the September 11, my wife received a WhatsApp message on her phone from Vidhi Shah, saying that situation was getting out of hand and they require help. This was followed by another WhatsApp message threatening consequences of not offering help.
Why are Eyewitnesses Dismissed?
Family argued that police dismissing a neighbour’s statement that Karan was found dangling from the balcony, as an attempt to recover some currency, was preposterous.
“As reported in the media, on the 14th of September, the lady describes seeing “a thin bald boy” later confirmed by her to be Karan from a photograph, dangling from a thin curly plastic wire tied to his trousers, from Rishi’s flat. This had been preceded by a lot of shouting, screaming and crying from the flat above. This apparently happened four days before the fateful day,” read the statement.
Need A Fair Probe or We Will Approach Court
“All that we are asking for is a fair investigation… be assured, we will pursue the investigation till we get justice for Karan and will not hesitate to move court for a monitored investigation or CBI investigation. The dead cannot seek justice. It is up to the living to get justice from the dead,” concluded the statement, signed by his father.
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